Top Democrats are keeping their cards close to the vest about whether they will help carry Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to avert a shutdown over the finish line.
Top Democrats are keeping their own counsel about whether they will help carry House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to avert a partial government shutdown over the finish line this week.
While initially grumbling about Johnson’s (R-La.) pitch for a rare two-step continuing resolution to keep federal operations going after 11:59 p.m. Friday, Democrats expressed relief Monday at the lack of spending cuts in the plan.
“For now, I am pleased that Speaker Johnson seems to be moving in our direction by advancing a CR that does not include the highly partisan cuts that Democrats have warned against,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Monday, adding that his chamber would stand aside and let the House put the plan to the test first.
Schumer stopped short of formally endorsing the proposal and alluded to grievances over the complex nature of Johnson’s so-called “laddered” approach.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) encapsulated much of the sentiment amongst his party in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday.
“It looks gimmicky to me, but I’m open to what the House is talking about,” Murphy said. “The priority has to be keeping the government open.”
Enough House Republicans have already come out against Johnson’s plan to tank it if Democrats don’t step in.
“I’m not going to make a judge on whether I’d veto or I’d sign,” President Biden told reporters Monday. “Let’s wait and see what they come up with.”
Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives largely echoed Schumer in a Monday letter to members, saying that they were “carefully evaluating the proposal set forth by Republican leadership and discussing it with members.”
“We remain concerned with the bifurcation of the continuing resolution,” they added.
